Barkow (
Prisoners of Politics) presents a strong thesis featuring six Supreme Court cases that paved the way for mass incarceration in the U.S., beginning in the 1960s. Each chapter focuses on a different catalyst: pretrial detention, plea bargaining, disproportionate sentences, overcrowded prisons, stop-and-frisk, and racial bias. The relevant cases are presented at the beginning of each chapter, followed by their respective verdicts and impact; then, theoretical alternative rulings are presented, as well as constitutional interpretations for originalists and non-originalists. Framing each chapter this way allows for a multi-level understanding of each cause, as well as a blueprint for change, should the opportunity to contest these cases arise. In addition to highlighting specific justices’ opinions, Barkow embeds each case in its historical context. The legacy of bail reform, pretrial incarceration, and plea bargains will remind readers that modern de facto practices haven’t always been the norm. Parts of this book flow like a modern thriller, and readers will be pleasantly surprised by the density of facts they come away with after each chapter.
VERDICT An intelligent, essential compendium that creates a 360-degree view of the United States’ crisis of mass incarceration.